Running board luggage holder



NOV. 15, 1932. o sc 1,887,653

. RUNNING BOARD LUGGAGE HOLDER Filed April 29, 1931 INVENTO ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1932 Uhll'flil? STATES PAT HARRY LONSCHEIN, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y.

RUNNING BOARD LUGGAGE HOLDER Application filed April 29,

My invention relates to running board lug-' gage holders for automobiles and the like.

My object is to construct a running board luggage holder that will not only hold in ,1 place luggage placed upon the running board but will, when out of use also serve to reinforce the running board against sagging and will preferably supplement the tread or wear surface thereof. Another object is to 1% construct a holder of few and simple parts which may be easily manufactured and assembled. Still another object is to provide a holder which when out of use is invisible save as to the upper part thereof.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one preferred form only of my invention 7 Fig. 1 is a perspective view partly broken away showing the holder in position for use as a. running board luggage holder.

Fig. 2 is a. side elevation of the holder unit detached from the running board and closed, and partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a section of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. In said drawing 1 represents the main body of a running board such as usually provided at each side of an automobile body. 22 are fixed wear strips which extend longitudinally on the tread surface of the board. 3 is what I would term a movable strip also positioned longitudinally of the said board and near the outer edge of same. This strip preferably performs the function of a wear strip when the holder is folded down into the position shown in Fig. 2. The strip 3 is preferably channeled or U-shaped in cross section, the channel facing downwardly. 4: is the main frame of the holder the same being channelled or preferably U-shaped in cross section, the channel facing upwardly. 55 are links the ends of which extend into the channels of the parts 3-d and are pivoted there in so as to connect the strip 3 with the frame 4- Theselinks permit the strip 3 to be swung up to the luggage holding position shown in 1 substantially parall ito the upper or tread surface of the running board. Any suitable means may be provided to holdsaid strip 3 elevated so that luggage may be safely deposited upon the running board back of the 1931. Serial No. 533,592.

strip 3 and in which position said strip 3 and l links 5-5,.hold said luggage against lateral escape. The mud guards 6-7 located respectively at the front and rear ends of the running board serve to hold the luggage against endwise escape. I have shown toggle links 8-8a asone effective means for holding the strip 3 elevated. When the strip 3 is lowered down the links 5-5 and 8-8a fold into the channels in parts 3+4 so as to be hidden by the flanges formed thereby. When v the holder is folded the upper part 'of the strip 3 may act as a wear strip for the tread of the running board. 9 is a finger piece at one end of strip 3 which the user can easily grasp when the holder is folded and whereby said strip may be lifted or swung up to the luggage holding position shown in Fig. 1. When the lower frame 4 is in the form of a U-shaped sheath or channel I preferably provide one or more drain holes 7- 7 in the bottom to permit water to escape therethrough. From the foregoing it will be understood that the luggage holder is invisible when folded down,

save as to the top of strip 3, and this is of.

great advantage not only from an aesthetic tandpoint but because it avoids any awkward projected part that might cause injury by catching the body or clothes of a passerby. The elimination of projecting parts also facilitates the washer or cleaner since there is nothing to catch his sponge, cleaning rag or hands while in the act of washing the car. The holder may be made and sold in the form of a unit that may easily be applied to the running board of any car by merely making in said board a recess or pocket of suitable size to receive said unit. The unit may be secured to the running board in any way and by any means available to the ordinary mechanic. The parts 3& being mounted edgewise on the running board serve to stiffen same against sagging in the middle and when said parts are channeled the stiffness of the holder is increased thereby permitting said parts to be made of lighter material than otherwise.

By employing U-shaped channel pieces; the pivot pinsfor the links are supported at'both ends in the side walls of said channel pieces and thereby better resist strains than if supported at one end only. Again, the U-shaped channels frictionally grip the link ends between the Walls thereof and prevent looseness and rattling; and, again by making the upper frame U-shaped in cross-section, there are no projecting shoulders to catch and tear the garments when one is entering or leaving the vehicle and stepping over theluggage holder when the latter is raised into the operable position indicated in Fig. 1.

I claim:

1. In a running board luggage holder, a strip rigidly carried thereby, an inverted U- shaped channel piece, and links connecting said strip with said channel piece, the ends of said links projecting into the channel and between the side Walls thereof and pivotally held therebetween.

2. In a running board luggage holder, a UTshaped strip arranged to be mounted rigidly on a running board, an inverted U- shaped strip overstanding the first mentioned strip, a series of linksconnecting said strips, the ends of said links extending into thechannels of said links respectively and held between the side walls thereof with pivots for each of the-linkends, said pivots being supported at both ends in and by the sides of said channel pieces.

HARRY LONSOHEIN. 

